Students considering online nursing schools in Tennessee should note that job opportunities for nurses in the state are expected to grow. The U.S. Department of Labor expects nursing employment in "the Volunteer State" to increase faster than the average for all U.S. occupations in the period from 2008 to 2018.

Nursing opportunities are expanding as the population of Tennessee grows. U.S. Census data show that this state grew faster than the nationwide average between 2000 and 2010. In 2009, among the more than 6 million residents of Tennessee, the percentage of persons 65 years and older was higher than the national average. This makes sufficient health care services essential.

Tennessee nursing schools: online and on-campus

There are numerous nursing programs in the state, including the following:

• University of Tennessee
• Tennessee Technological University
• Austin Peay State University
• Baptist College of Health Sciences
• Cleveland State Community College

Common coursework at Tennessee nursing schools, online or on-campus, may include pathophysiology, pharmacology, nursing informatics, gerontology and other subjects related to the medical profession.

Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, offers an online RN-BSN program for professionals with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, so that they can continue working while finishing their degrees. Such non-traditional programs offer flexible formats for adult learners with other commitments. Online colleges across the country offer nursing programs for students in any state.

Salary information for nursing graduates in Tennessee

Nationwide, licensed practical and vocational nurses brought in a mean annual salary of $41,360 in 2010, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses earned $67,720, significantly more than the mean yearly wage for all U.S. occupations of $44,410.

In Tennessee, the mean annual salary for RNs in 2010 was below the national average for nurses at $60,480; however, the cost of living there is also lower. The state enjoyed the third lowest cost of living in the country during the second quarter of 2011, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center and The Council for Community and Economic Research.